Arsenal Reserves Defeated By Chelsea

Arsenal Reserves were defeated 4-0 by Chelsea at London Colney today in their last Reserve game of 2011.

Neil Banfield made one change from the side which were defeated by Aston Villa a few weeks ago. Stand in captain Daniel Boateng returned from suspension and German midfielder Serge Gnabry dropped out. After being recalled from League two side Dagenham and Redbridge James Shea was on the bench for the Gunners. Also was George Brislen-Hall who made his first appearance of the season for Steve Bould’s side in the defeat to Charlton on Saturday.

Early on Belgium international Romelu Lukaku got past Angha but Monteiro was there to clear the ball away. Chelsea should have opened the scoring but Chalobah put his effort wide of the Arsenal goal. Arsenal midfielder Özyakup found Murphy but the striker blasted his chance over. Angha got forward from left-back and drifted in to the center to create room for the shot but his effort was always going wide of the goal.

Good work from Eastmond and he found Meade, who’s strike went narrowly wide of the Chelsea goal. Nico Yennaris went down after a late challenge from Djalo which saw the Chelsea midfielder get a yellow card. Arsenal’s best chance of the half-time fell to Murphy who shot straight at the Chelsea goalkeeper. Moments later Taylor made another save to deny Murphy’s curling effort just outside the box.

Chelsea scored the opening goal of the match when Chalobah scored a back-hell after a Chelsea corner was not cleared by Arsenal. Neil Banfield’s side went in at the break a goal down, lots of possession just couldn’t create many chances.

Arsenal started the second-half really well and had an early chance when Murphy shot from a tight angle but went wide of the Chelsea goal. Moments later Chelsea doubled their lead when Romelu Lukaku was in the right place to score from Lalkovic’s cross. Rhys Murphy thought he was offside and decided to shot anyway because the linesman didn’t put his flag up, Murphy’s effort hit Chelsea’s post.

Neil Banfield made a double change when Josh Rees and Kyle Ebecilio came on for Zak Ansah and Sead Hajrovic. Chelsea nearly scored a third when Lukaku just missed Lalkovic’s cross. Stand in captain Boateng fouled Feruz just on the edge of the Arsenal box. Nathaniel Chalobah took the resulting free-kick and curled it over the Arsenal wall in to the top-hand corner of the goal. A wonderful free-kick which made it 3-0 to Chelsea.

Özyakup played a nice pass to Rhys Murphy who controlled well but put his effort wide, he should have done better. Another chance fell to Lukaku but the Belgium international could only put his chance in to the side netting. Chelsea got there fourth through Lucas Piazon late on in the game.

Neil Banfield’s side next play on 4th January against Sunderland at London Colney.